It's supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year." However, if you are like me, the holidays such as Christmas can become a sensory overload in more ways than one. Epilepsy can be hard to navigate during the Christmas rush. Whether you have photophobia (sensitivity to light), a sensitivity to noise, smell, or you find yourself hitting a panic attack, it can go from wonderful to a nightmare in seconds. What can you do to not feel overwhelmed during the holidays? I have a few tricks and tips to help you out.
- Take a break! It's easy to get caught up in the onslaught of activities (concerts, parties, light up nights, pageants, a gift exchange). Sometimes, you need to refocus your perspective. Before jumping in on the holiday brigade of activities, ask yourself these questions: Do I need to be here? Will this clash with another activity? Will it affect my mental health? If you find yourself answering yes to it clashing with another activity or affecting your mental health, feel free to say "no thanks" and step back from the rush. Your mind and body will thank you later.
- Take a breath! The excitement of unwrapping gifts, seeing family or friends, buying gifts, or visiting St. Nick might cause seizures in some people with epilepsy. It's important to keep calm and not overstimulate the senses. One tip I learned over the years is to keep it low-key. If your kids want to see Santa Claus at the mall, for instance, go when there is not a big crowd. If you are throwing a family get together, have a safe space to power down with calming items like headphones, sleep masks, heating pads, and maybe a few cozy blankets. Pets will be overwhelmed too so if you or your kid want to have a cuddle room with your pet, let it happen.
- Take your time and ease into the holidays! I don't know about you, but it seems we go into the holiday rush of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve at lightning speed. There's no time to reflect, clean up, or simply have some down time. You find yourself decorating and then before you can blink, undecorating your house. It can be a stressful situation and cause a lot of anxiety. One trick which helps me keep things in perspective is to slow down. I make a chart of when I want to do certain activities with my family such as decorate, prep for the family get together, and of course, having the Christmas meal! Making a plan can defuse all the tension you may experience during the holidays. Also if speed bumps enter in the journey of the holiday, you can reroute and creatively offer solutions well before they occur.
- Take care if you are not at your best. I've had Christmases I don't remember (side effects of medications) and having seizures can ruin any holiday. Sometimes, you end up in the ER or the hospital ( a definite bummer). If you don't feel like putting up lights or simply are having a rough holiday this year, it's okay to be sad and feel discouraged. I encourage you to take care. It is also okay to have a rescheduled Christmas after it passes in say January or later in December. I have had a myriad of Christmases rescheduled in my worst seizure moments. If you find yourself struggling this season, please reach out to friends or family members, a counselor, or someone you trust. No one should have to feel isolated or alone. Christmas can feel like the worst time of the year; I want you to know that we at Purplicious are here for you.
Do you have any tips or tricks to survive the holidays? Feel free to share them in the comments section! Wishing you all a peaceful and hope filled, seizure-free Joyeaux Noel!
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